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Message from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
17/2/10
I want to share an important victory with you and ask for your help. On Wednesday, a Puerto Rican court halted construction of a highly controversial primate-breeding facility in Guayama, Puerto Rico. If erected, the facility would pose a serious public health threat, and it would hold at least 3,000 monkeys taken from the wild in Mauritius. The monkeys would be used for breeding and experimentation. In July 2009, I went to Puerto Rico to visit the site of this facility. I was shocked by the environmental devastation and the effects of the facility on the neighbouring community, as well as the animal suffering that would occur if the facility became operational. While interviewing at a local TV station, I had the opportunity to speak with Gov. Fortuño, who said that if the parent company was found to be in the wrong he would withdraw his support for the project. Just weeks before the court’s decision to halt the facility, the Puerto Rico Senate also issued a report criticizing Bioculture, the company responsible for the facility.
“We conclude that the action and non-actions of the company with respect to the protection and integrity of the cultural, historic and archaeological resources of the land has been absolutely inadmissible and reprehensible,” the Senate report said.
In light of the findings of the Senate committee and the ruling of the court, I’m calling on Gov. Fortuño to honor his commitment, and I ask you to join me. We need your help to ensure this vital court decision has a positive and permanent effect in Puerto Rico.
Please continue to support the international effort to stop Puerto Rico from becoming a major player in the cruel international primate trade.
Please
e-mail Gov. Fortuño today and ask him to honor his statement
by withdrawing support of Bioculture and the monkey-breeding facility.
Hope
Ferdowsian, M.D., M.P.H.
Director of Research Policy
www.pcrm.org